There are changes coming soon to the days court is held in Roane County.

It has been standard procedure for decades as criminal cases in general sessions court have been held on Mondays. That practice will change later this year. Court officials have decided to hold the criminal dockets Tuesdays instead of Mondays. Juvenile Court will move from Tuesday to Monday

“The reason for this change after well over 40 years is to try and relieve some overcrowding of both the criminal docket and of the courtrooms,” District Attorney General Russell Johnson said in a letter to officials.

Johnson’s and Public Defender Kim Nelson’s offices also serve four counties in Roane, Loudon, Meigs and Morgan. There are many Mondays throughout the year when Roane County Criminal Court is going on at the same time as General Sessions Court.

“Criminal Court meets in Roane County more than any of the other four counties,” Johnson said in his letter. “Every Monday is a non-jury day which can mean over a hundred cases that necessarily involve the transport of dozens of inmates from the jail, not to mention the victims, witnesses, attorneys and the attenuating support staff, probation officers, and extra court officers.”

The change will happen on September 5, 2017 which is the day after Labor Day.